dressing. I couldn’t resist the starters, the
black bean cakes served with blackberry
salsa and the grilled Brussels sprouts with
sautéed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes
and vegan parmesan.
“I think the only way to introduce a nonvegan
to vegan food or to something new
is to present it in the ‘normal way,’ but not by
34 AUGUST 2 0 1 9
hate or by saying you should do this or that,”
Ganev said.
This theory is tested in No. 5 almost
every day. Ganev regularly serves nonvegan
visitors who try his vegan dishes
and increasingly become open to getting
their feet wet with plant-based meals. The
restaurant owner told me about a regular
Pizza debuts new wine bar
customer who comes in with her daughter
and gradually taste tested food off the
vegan menu. She has gone months without
consuming meat or dairy.
“She said, ‘I can’t believe it; I feel much
better.’ Which is the truth. Once you stop
the dairy, your skin and body kind of feel
reborn,” Ganev said.
FOOD + DRINK
